International Court of Justice

Lore & Background

The International Court of Justice, often called the World Court, serves as the United Nations’ main judicial body. It handles legal disputes between countries and gives advisory opinions on legal questions from other UN organs and specialized agencies. As the only international court that settles general disputes between states, its decisions and opinions are key sources of international law. It is one of the six principal organs of the UN.

Created in June 1945 by the UN Charter, the court started its work in April 1946. It replaced the Permanent Court of International Justice, which the League of Nations had set up in 1920. The ICJ’s founding statute is part of the UN Charter and closely follows the earlier court’s statute. Every UN member state automatically becomes a party to the ICJ Statute, but the court only has jurisdiction in contentious cases if the states involved consent, either through special agreements or by accepting the court’s compulsory jurisdiction.

The court has 15 judges, elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms. The bench must represent the world’s main forms of civilization and principal legal systems, and no two judges can be from the same country. The ICJ is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, making it the only principal UN organ not in New York City. Its official working languages are English and French.

Since its first case in 1947, the court has handled 201 cases as of September 2025. Its judgments are binding and final on the parties, but the ICJ has no way to enforce them. Enforcement depends on the UN Security Council, where any of the five permanent members can veto action.

Reader's Guide

The International Court of Justice is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between countries, and its rulings and opinions serve as primary sources of international law. As one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it plays a central role in the peaceful settlement of interstate disputes. The court's jurisdiction depends on state consent, which can be given through special agreements or declarations accepting compulsory jurisdiction. Its judgments are binding and final, but enforcement relies on the UN Security Council, where the veto power of the five permanent members can block action. The ICJ's composition reflects the world's main forms of civilization and principal legal systems, with judges elected for nine-year terms. Its location in The Hague, Netherlands, distinguishes it from other UN organs headquartered in New York City. The court's work builds on the legacy of the Permanent Court of International Justice, and its statute is an integral part of the UN Charter.